§38-9B-1. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(1) It is an essential function of state government to provide basic support for persons with a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, whether the impairment is congenital or occurs by reason of accident, injury, age, or disease.

(2) The cost of providing basic support for persons with a mental or physical impairment is difficult for many citizens to afford, and they are forced to rely upon the government to provide that support.

(3) The families and friends of persons with a mental or physical impairment desire to supplement, but not replace, the basic support provided by state government and other governmental programs.

(4) Medical, social, and other supplemental services are often provided by family members and friends of persons with a mental or physical impairment, for the lifetime of the impaired persons.

(5) It is necessary and desirable for the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state to encourage, enhance, and foster the ability of family members and friends of those individuals with a mental or physical impairment to supplement, but not to replace, the basic support provided by state government and other governmental programs and to provide for medical, social, or other supplemental services for those impaired persons.

(b) The Legislature declares the purpose of the Alabama Family Trust Corporation, the Alabama Family Trust, and the Alabama Family Trust Charitable Trust is to encourage, enhance, and foster the provision of medical, social, or other supplemental services for persons with a mental or physical impairment.

(Acts 1994, No. 94-579, p. 1054, §1.)